The unsolved murder of an Oregon state agency leader | EP 110

Michael Francke, then the head of the Oregon Department of Corrections, was murdered at work in 1989. The case is both fascinating and disturbing. We know that Francke uncovered corruption within the agency. We know that he was scheduled to testify before a key legislative committee the next morning. We know that Frank Gable, who was prosecuted and convicted of the murder, has been exonerated--and that Francke's family believed Gable was innocent all along. But, three decades later, we still don't know who killed Michael Francke--or why they did it. 

 

In this episode, we talk to three guests who are experts on the case: Kevin Francke (Michael's brother), Phil Stanford (a journalist who covered the story for decades), and Lauren Bright Pacheco, the host of "Murder in Oregon" about the case. We cover the basics of the case and jump into the controversy, intrigue, characters, and the many unsolved mysteries. Importantly, we discuss why this case still matters today--and why we should all care about justice for Michael and the Francke family. Finally, we talk about what should happen next. 

 

We highly recommend the "Murder in Oregon" podcast, a twelve-episode series that features interviews with Nigel Jaquiss, former Oregon State Treasurer Jim Hill, former State Rep. Chuck Sides, journalist Jim Redden, and many more. You can listen on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.